the dust-第22部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


〃　said　he。　　〃I　went　to　see　for　myself。　　How　did　I　act　that　she　was　made　uneasy？〃

〃She　didn't　say。　　But　a　woman　can　tell　what　a　man　has　in　the　back　of　his　headwhen　it　concerns　her。　　And　she　is　a　good　womanso　innocent　that　you　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself　for　even　thinking　of　her　in　that　way。　　God　has　given　innocence　instincts；　and　she　felt　what　you　were　about。〃

Norman　laugheda　deliberate　provocation。　　〃Love　has　made　a　fool　of　you；　old　man；〃　he　said。

〃I　notice　you　don't　deny；〃　retorted　Tetlow　shrewdly。

〃Deny　what？　　There's　nothing　to　deny。〃　　He　felt　secure　now　that　he　knew　she　had　been　reticent　with　Tetlow　as　to　the　happenings　in　the　cottage。

〃Maybe　I'm　wronging　you；〃　said　Tetlow；　but　not　in　the　tone　of　belief。　　〃However　that　may　be；　I　know　you'll　not　refuse　to　listen　to　my　appeal。　　I　love　her；　Norman。　　I'm　going　to　make　her　my　wife　if　I　can。　And　I　ask　youfor　the　sake　of　our　old　friendship　to　let　her　alone。　　I've　no　doubt　you　could　dazzle　her。　You　couldn't　make　a　bad　woman　of　her。　　But　you　could　make　her　very　miserable。〃

Norman　pushed　about　the　papers　before　him。　　His　face　wore　a　cynical　smile；　but　Tetlow；　who　knew　him　in　all　his　moods；　saw　that　he　was　deeply　agitated。

〃I　don't　know　that　I　can　win　her；　Fred；〃　he　pleaded。　〃But　I　feel　that　I　might　if　I　had　a　fair　chance。〃

〃You　think　she'd　refuse　YOU？〃　said　Norman。

〃Like　a　flash；　unless　I'd　made　her　care　for　me。　That's　the　kind　she　is。〃

〃That　sounds　absurd。　　Why；　there　isn't　a　woman　in　New　York　who　would　refuse　a　chance　to　take　a　high　jump　up。〃

〃I'd　have　said　so；　too。　　But　since　I've　gotten　acquainted　with　her　I've　learned　better。　　She　may　be　spoiled　some　day；　but　she　hasn't　been　yet。　　God　knows；　I　wish　I　could　tempt　her。　　But　I　can't。〃

〃You're　entirely　too　credulous；　old　man。　　She'll　make　a　fool　of　you。〃

〃I　know　better；〃　Tetlow　stubbornly　maintained。　〃Anyhow；　I　don't　care。　　I　love　her；　and　I'd　marry　her；　no　matter　what　her　reason　for　marrying　me　was。〃

What　pitiful　infatuation！worse　than　his　own。　Poor　Tetlow！he　deserved　a　better　fate　than　to　be　drawn　into　this　girl's　trapfor；　of　course；　she　never　could　care　for　such　a　heavy　citizenheavy　and　homely　the　loosely　fat　kind　of　homely　that　is　admired　by　no　one；　not　even　by　a　woman　with　no　eye　at　all　for　the　physical　points　of　the　male。　　It　would　be　a　real　kindness　to　save　worthy　Tetlow。　　What　a　fool　she'd　make　of　him！how　she'd　squander　his　moneyand　torment　him　with　jealousyand　unfit　him　for　his　career。　　Poor　Tetlow！　　If　he　could　get　what　he　wanted；　he'd　be　well　punished　for　his　imprudence　in　wanting　it。　　Really；　could　friendship　do　him　a　greater　service　than　to　save　him？

Norman　gave　Tetlow　a　friendly；　humorous　glance。　〃You're　a　hopeless　case；　Billy；〃　he　said。　　〃But　at　least　don't　rush　into　trouble。　　Take　your　time。　　You　can　always　get　in；　you　know；　and　you　may　not　get　in　quite　so　deep。〃

〃You　promise　to　let　her　alone？〃　said　Tetlow　eagerly。

Again　his　distinguished　friend　laughed。　　〃Don't　be　an　ass；　old　man。　　Why　imagine　that；　just　because　you've　taken　a　fancy　to　a　girl；　everyone　wants　her？〃　He　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder；　gave　him　a　push　toward　the　door。　　〃I've　wasted　enough　time　on　this　nonsense。〃

Tetlow　did　not　venture　to　disregard　a　hint　so　plain。　He　went　with　his　doubt　still　unsolvedhis　doubt　whether　his　jealousy　was　right　or　his　high　opinion　of　his　hero　friend　whose　series　of　ever…mounting　successes　had　filled　him　with　adoration。　　He　knew　the　way　of　success；　knew　no　man　could　tread　it　unless　he　had；　or　acquired；　a　certain　hardness　of　heart　that　made　him　an　uncomfortable　not　to　say　dangerous　associate。　　He　regretted　his　own　inability　to　acquire　that　indispensable　hardness；　and　envied　and　admired　it　in　Fred　Norman。　　But；　at　the　same　time　that　he　admired；　he　could　not　help　distrusting。

Norman　battled　with　his　insanity　an　hour；　then　sent　for　Miss　Hallowell。

The　girl　had　lost　her　look　of　strength　and　vitality。　She　seemed　frail　and　dimso　unimportant　physically　that　he　wondered　why　her　charm　for　him　persisted。　Yet　it　did　persist。　　If　he　could　take　her　in　his　arms；　could　make　her　drooping　beauty　revive！through　love　for　him　if　possible；　if　not；　then　through　anger　and　hate！　　He　must　make　her　feel；　must　make　her　acknowledge；　that　he　had　power。　　It　seemed　to　him　another　instance　of　the　resistless　fascination　which　the　unattainable；　however　unworthy；　has　ever　had　for　the　conqueror　temperament。

〃You　are　leaving？〃　he　said　curtly；　both　a　question　and　an　affirmation。

〃Yes。〃

〃You　are　making　a　mistakea　serious　mistake。〃

She　stood　before　him　listlessly；　as　if　she　had　no　interest　either　in　what　he　was　saying　or　in　him。　　That　maddening　indifference！

〃It　was　a　mistake　to　tattle　your　trouble　to　Tetlow。〃

〃I　did　not　tattle；〃　said　she　quietly；　colorlessly。　　〃I　said　only　enough　to　make　him　help　me。〃

〃And　what　did　he　say　about　me？〃

〃That　I　had　misjudged　youthat　I　must　be　mistaken。〃

Norman　laughed。　　〃How　seriously　the　little　people　of　the　world　do　take　themselves！〃

She　looked　at　him。　　His　amused　eyes　met　hers　frankly。　　〃You　didn't　mean　it？〃　she　said。

He　beamed　on　her。　　〃Certainly　I　did。　　But　I'm　not　a　lunatic　or　a　wild　beast。　　Do　you　think　I　would　take　advantage　of　a　girl　in　your　position？〃

Her　eyes　seemed　to　grow　large　and　weary；　and　an　expression　of　experience　stole　over　her　young　face；　giving　it　a　strange　appearance　of　age…in…youth。　　〃It　has　been　done；〃　said　she。

How　reconcile　such　a　look　with　the　theory　of　her　childlike　innocence？　　But　then　how　reconcile　any　two　of　the　many　varied　personalities　he　had　seen　in　her？　He　said：　　〃Yesit　has　been　done。　　But　not　by　me。　I　shall　take　from　you　only　what　you　gladly　give。〃

〃You　will　get　nothing　else；〃　said　she　with　quiet　strength。

〃That　being　settled〃　he　went　on；　holding　up　a　small　package　of　papers　bound　together　by　an　elastic　〃Here　are　the　proposed　articles　of　incorporation　of　the　Chemical　Research　Company。　　How　do　you　like　the　name？〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃The　company　that　is　to　back　your　father。　　Capital　stock；　twenty…five　thousand　dollars；　one　half　paid　up。　　Your　father　to　be　employed　as　director　of　the　laboratories　at　five　thousand　a　year；　with　a　fund　of　ten　thousand　to　draw　upon。　　You　to　be　employed　as　secretary　and　treasurer　at　fifteen　hundred　a　year。　　I　will　take　the　paid…up　stock；　and　your　father　and　you　will　have　the　privilege　of　buying　it　back　at　par　within　five　years。　　Do　you　follow　me？〃

〃I　think　I　understand；〃　was　her　unexpected　reply。　Her　replies　were　usually　unexpected；　like　the　expressions　of　her　face　and　figure；　she　was　continually　comprehending　where　one　would　have　said　she　would　not；　and　not　comprehending　where　it　seemed　absurd　that　she　should　not。　　〃Yes；　I　understand。　。　。　。　　What　else？〃

〃Nothing　else。〃

She　looked　intently　at　him；　and　her　eyes　seemed　to　be　reading　his　soul　to　the　bottom。

〃Nothing　else；〃　he　repeated。

〃No　obligationfor　moneyorfor　anything？〃

〃No　obligation。　　A　hope　perhaps。〃　　He　was　smiling　with　the　gayest　good　humor。　　〃But　not　the　kind　of　hope　that　ever　becomes　a　disagreeable　demand　for　payment。〃

She　seated　herself；　her　hands　in　her　lap；　her　eyes　downa　lovely　picture　of　pensive　repose。　　He　waited　patiently；　feasting　his　senses　upon　her　delicate；　aromatic　loveliness。　　At　last　she　said：

〃I　accept。〃

He　had　anticipated　an　argument。　　This　promptness　took　him　by　surprise。　　He　felt　called　upon　to　explain；　to　excuse　her　acceptance。　　〃I　am　taking　a　little　flyer　making　a　gamble；〃　said　he。　　〃Your　father　may　turn　up　nothing　of　commercial　value。　　Again　the　company　may　pay　big〃

She　gave　him　a　long　look　through　half…closed　eyes；　a　queer　smile　flitting　round　her　lips。　　〃I　understand　perfectly　why　you　are　doing　it；〃　she　said。　　〃Do　you　understand　why　I　am　accepting？〃

〃Why　should　you　refuse？〃　rejoined　he。　　〃It　is　a　good　business　prop〃

〃You　know　very　well　why　I　should　refuse。　　But〃　She　gave　a　quiet　laugh　of　experience；　it　made　him　feel　that　she　was　making　a　fool　of　him〃I　shall　not　refuse。　I　am　able　to　take　care　of　myself。　　And　I　want　father　to　have　his　chance。　　Of　course；　I　shan't　explain　to　him。〃　She　gave　him　a　mischievous　glance。　　〃And　I　don't　think　YOU　will。〃

He　contrived　to　cover　his　anger；　doubt；　chagrin；　general　feeling　of　having　been　outwitted。　　〃No；　I　shan't　tell　him；〃　laughed　he。　　〃You　are　making　a　great　fool　of　me。〃

〃Do　you　want　to　back　out？〃

What　audacity！　　He　hesitateddid　not　dare。　　Her　indifference　to　himher　personal；　her　physical　indifference　gave　her　the　mastery。　　His　teeth　clenched　and　his　passion　blazed　in　his　eyes　as　he　said：　　〃Noyou　witch！　I'll　see　it　through。〃

She　smiled　lightly。　　〃I　suppose　you'll　come　to　the　offices　of　the　companyoccasionally？〃　　She　drew　nearer；　stood　at　the　corner　of　the　desk。　　Into　her　exquisite　eyes　came　a　look　of　tenderness。　　〃And　I　shall　be　glad　to　see　you。〃

〃You　mean　that？〃　he　said；　despising　himself　for　his　humble　eagerness；　and　hating　her　even　as　he　loved　her。

〃Indeed　I　do。〃　　She　smiled　bewitchingly。　　〃You　are　a　lot　better　man　than　you　think。〃

〃I　am　an　awful　fool　about　you；〃　retorted　he。　　〃You　see；　I　play　my　game　with　all　my　cards　on　the　table。　　I　wish　I　could　say　the　same　of　you。〃

〃I　am　not　playing　a　game；〃　replied　she。　　〃You　make　a　mystery　where　there　isn't　any。　　Andall　your　cards　aren't　on　the　table。〃　　She　laughed　mockingly。　〃At　least；　you　think　there's　one　that　isn'tthough；　really；　it　is。〃

〃Yes？〃

〃About　your　engagement。〃

He　covered　superbly。　　〃Oh；〃　said　he　in　the　most　indifferent　tone。　　〃Tetlow　told　you。〃

〃As　soon　as　I　heard　that；〃　she　went　on；　〃I　felt　better　about　you。　　I　understand　how　it　is　with　men　the　passing　fancies　they　have　for　women。〃

〃How　did　you　learn？〃　demanded　he。

〃Do　you　think　a　girl　could　spend　several　years　knocking　about　down　town　in　New　York　without　getting　experience？〃

He　smileda　forced　smile　of　raillery；　hiding　sud…　den　fierce　suspicion　and　jealousy。　　〃I　should　say　not。　But　you　always　pretend　innocence。〃

〃I　can't　be　held　responsible　for　what　you　read　into　my　looks　and　into　what　I　say；〃　observed　she　with　her　air　of　a　wise　old　infant。　　〃But　I　was　so　glad　to　find　out　that　you　were　seriously　in　love　with　a　nice　girl　up　town。〃

He　burst　out　laughing。　　She　gazed　at　him　in　childlike　surprise。　　〃Why　are　you　laughing　at　me？〃　she　asked。

〃Nothingnothing；〃　he　assured　her。　　He